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US worries on arms ban
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February 8, 2005
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The United States has raised fresh concerns over
the European Union's likely lifting of an arms embargo against China, saying it
will send a wrong signal over human rights concerns.
``We believe lifting the EU arms embargo at a time when China's human rights
record remains poor would send a wrong message,'' US Undersecretary of State
John Bolton said in Tokyo on Monday. He said the EU should keep the
15-year-long embargo, imposed in the wake of the 1989 Tiananmen Square
massacre, to show the world is united in putting concern over China's human
rights records before commercial gain.
EU countries such as France and Germany - both major arms exporters - agree with
China the ban should be lifted. But the United States and Japan oppose the
lifting, which could come in the next six months, saying the move will
undermine Taiwan and encourage repression on the mainland.AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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